160 likes | 469 Views
Youth participation and youth adult partnerships Presentation YAP Training Dublin, March 2006 By YouAct, European Youth Network on SRR, IPPF EN and EuroNGOs. Definition.
E N D
Youth participationand youth adult partnershipsPresentationYAP Training Dublin, March 2006By YouAct, European Youth Network on SRR, IPPF EN and EuroNGOs
Definition Youth participation is the active and meaningful involvement of young people in all stages of program decision-making, including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
Why Youth Participation ? • Improvement effectiveness program • Empowerment youth
Why Youth Participation ? • Improvement effectiveness program: • By knowing needs and concerns of target group • By having a more effective and broader outreach • By new and fresh ideas from different perspectives including young people • By extra human resources • By improving credibility • Find commitment and energy enhanced by working with youth • Share knowledge
Why Youth Participation ? • Empowerment Youth • Youth gain skills, knowledge and experience • Youth gain confidence • Youth gain more opportunities for the future • Involvement leads to believe to make a change in your life and the lives of others
Youth participation in theory Flower of participation
Adult initiated, Shared decisions with youth Medium responsibility Consulted and Informed Low responsibility Youth-initiated and directed High responsibility Assigned but informed Low responsibility Youth-initiated, shared decisions with adults High responsibility Tokenism No responsibility Decoration No responsibility Manipulation No responsibility
Essence of Youth Involvement • YOUTH PARTICIPATION IS: • Partnership youth and adults • Contribution of all participants • YOUTH PARTICIPATION IS NOT: • Letting youth practice at being an adult • Just peer education
YAP Partnership: relationship wherein partners have opportunity to participate equally and each contribution is recognized and valued It takes two......
Elements Understanding each other’s situation Confidence in each other’s judgement Respecting Recognizing each other Embrace change (ideas, structures) Power sharing
Barriers YAP Attitudes Logistical Organizational houres, transportation, food, equipment and support, procedures and policies, training, power imbalance, responsibilities sharing (adults are afraid to), different priorities in current situations, level of involvement of youth
Solutions / guidelines for effective YAP Clear defined roles and responsiblities for youth and adults Clear on each others contribution and added value: it requires discussion between both Don’t be afraid to give responsiblities to youth – share power in making decisions YAP is not easily established: it demands time, investment, and often a change of vision Clear goals of the partnership
Solutions / guidelines for effective YAP Give youth space to discuss their own issues and participation. They often still need time to define their own role as a youth, youth group in the partnership The whole organization needs to understand and commit to youth adult partnerships Capacitybuilding and training YAP is a process and is not a fixed project!
Questions?? • www.choiceforyouth.org • www.youact.org • www.wpf.org
We are not just talking about giving young people a voice, but getting adults to have an ear” Quote from participant of the Asian Regional meeting “Youth Participation: Challenges and Opportunities”